Swallower

swal·low ¹  (swl)

v. swal·lowed, swal·low·ing, swal·lows

v.tr.

1. To cause (food or drink, for example) to pass through the mouth and throat into the stomach.

2. To put up with (something unpleasant): swallowed the insults and kept on working.

3. To refrain from expressing; suppress: swallow one's feelings.

4. To consume or destroy as if by ingestion; devour: a building that was swallowed up by fire.

5. Slang To believe without question: swallowed the alibi.

6. To take back; retract: swallow one's words.

7. To say inarticulately; mumble: The actor swallowed his lines.

v.intr.

To perform the act of swallowing.

n.

1. The act of swallowing.

2. An amount swallowed.

3. Nautical The channel through which a rope runs in a block or a mooring chock.

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[Middle English swalowen, from Old English swelgan; see swel- in Indo-European roots.]

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swallow·er n.

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swal·low ²  (swl)

n.

1. Any of various small graceful swift-flying passerine birds of the family Hirundinidae, having long pointed wings, a usually notched or forked tail, and a large mouth for catching flying insects and noted for their regular migrations in large numbers, often over long distances.

2. Any of various similar birds, such as a swift.

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[Middle English swalowe, from Old English swealwe.]